Eastern Railroad Discussion > New NS AC44C6CF's

I seen something but can't find it and I believe it was on facebook from NSDash9.com that NS is making AC44C6CF's. Anyone know what these will look like and will first few where a new paint scheme or just go standard NS colors?

They in fact are building them as of right now 2 dash 9s are being covererted and will be in the 85xx and I'm pretty sure they will be black and this isn't the only rebuilt the 80Macs are getting rebuilt and so are the SD70s

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/17 16:24 by ns7500.

The AC44C6CF DC to AC rebuilds from Dash 9-44CW's will be similar to the AC44C6M's, but will use a TMV control system and Interstate EFI, rather than the GE components.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

NSDash9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The AC44C6CF DC to AC rebuilds from Dash 9-44CW's
> will be similar to the AC44C6M's, but will use a
> TMV control system and Interstate EFI, rather than
> the GE components.
>
>
> Chris Toth
> NSDash9.com

So Chris, whats the deal with the SD70's to AC and the beloved SD80MAC's?  Any details on those projects, or should I try to get every SD70 I see rolling before its too late? 

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

What does the "CF" stand for, as opposed to "M" ("M"odified, I'd guess)?

bath_wildcat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So Chris, whats the deal with the SD70's to AC and the beloved SD80MAC's?  Any details on those
> projects, or should I try to get every SD70 I see rolling before its too late? 

NS SD70's 2537 and 2548 are stripped down and undergoing rebuilding by Progress Rail at Muncie, IN.  I would suspect NS will test these two once completed before they decide on doing additional units.

A rebuild program for the SD80MAC's has not yet been approved.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

CPR_4000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What does the "CF" stand for, as opposed to "M"
> ("M"odified, I'd guess)?

Yea, I'm curious as to what CF stands for as M does mean Modified on AC44C6M.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What does the "CF" stand for, as opposed to "M" ("M"odified, I'd guess)?

Correct on the "M" in the AC44C6M designation. 

NS Dash 9-44CW 8900 was sent to CAF USA back in July 2015 for DC to AC conversion utilizing different components from the GE AC44C6M rebuilds.  That unit has still not been completed and it's unknown why the delay.  NS has chosen to start rebuilding a couple Dash 9-44CW's at its own Roanoke Locomotive Shop, using the same components/specs as the units sent to CAF.  The "CF" in the designation if in reference to the CAF rebuild specs.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

NSDash9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CPR_4000 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What does the "CF" stand for, as opposed to "M"
> ("M"odified, I'd guess)?
>
> Correct on the "M" in the AC44C6M designation. 
>
> NS Dash 9-44CW 8900 was sent to CAF USA back in
> July 2015 for DC to AC conversion utilizing
> different components from the GE AC44C6M
> rebuilds.  That unit has still not been completed
> and it's unknown why the delay.  NS has chosen to
> start rebuilding a couple Dash 9-44CW's at its own
> Roanoke Locomotive Shop, using the same
> components/specs as the units sent to CAF.  The
> "CF" in the designation if in reference to the CAF
> rebuild specs.
>
>
> Chris Toth
> NSDash9.com

What does CAF stand for?

cornerfieldhobby Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What does CAF stand for?

Compañía Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A., a Spanish company, I think.

http://www.cafusa.com/

These are the folks who are building the very-late Viewliners for Amtrak.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/17 20:16 by CPR_4000.

So GE refused to cooperate for these rebuilds? Given NS's track record of non GE supplied rebuilds (i.e. D8.5,) do they really think they'll end up with a quality product, especially since this involves over 1000 units?

Not all the Dash 9-44CW's will be rebuilt as AC44C6CF units. Once the Dash 9-40C's are all rebuilt as AC44C6M's, that program will continue with the Dash 9-44CW's.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

NSDash9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The AC44C6CF DC to AC rebuilds from Dash 9-44CW's
> will be similar to the AC44C6M's, but will use a
> TMV control system and Interstate EFI, rather than
> the GE components.


You'd think they would have learned their lesson after the debacle that was the Dash 8.5 program and their crappy software & EFI.  Almost all of those turds have been shopped for fuel rail leaks & software issues they can't seem to fix or keep running.  What a joke.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/17 00:39 by nsrlink.

nsrlink Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NSDash9 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The AC44C6CF DC to AC rebuilds from Dash
> 9-44CW's
> > will be similar to the AC44C6M's, but will use
> a
> > TMV control system and Interstate EFI, rather
> than
> > the GE components.
>
>
> You'd think they would have learned their lesson
> after the debacle that was the Dash 8.5 program
> and their crappy software & EFI.  Almost all of
> those turds have been shopped for fuel rail leaks
> & software issues they can't seem to fix or keep
> running.  What a joke.

When something doesn't quite go according to plan, a successful organisation like NS doesn't throw it's ams up in the air, start crying and give up! They try again, with the aim of making improvements and getting it right. It's the same principle behind why we're sitting behind screens contributing to this forum rather than living in caves eating worms and dying at the age of 25. 

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When something doesn't quite go according to plan,
> a successful organisation like NS doesn't throw
> it's ams up in the air, start crying and give up!
> They try again, with the aim of making
> improvements and getting it right. It's the same
> principle behind why we're sitting behind screens
> contributing to this forum rather than living in
> caves eating worms and dying at the age of 25. 

On the other hand you can try to polish a turd, but it's still a turd.
They were garbage before rebuild.  Post rebuild they are still garbage.
Sometimes it's better to admit defeat than to keep flushing time & money down the toilet.
Apparently they're doing that with the CAT engined rebuilds, no reason why the Dash 8.5 series can't suffer a similar fate with their faulty fuel injection & other electrical issues.  Sure they might make a trip here & there, but they're unreliable & that's why they are hanger queens at the East End shops in Roanoke.

Why they don't stick with proven EFI & Traction control systems is beyond me; just use what works.

I wonder if GE is helping with the Dash-8 project? They would have an interest in making their product more saleable, but they wouldn't want the customer to stop buying and just rebuild forever.  If GE is getting revenue from selling the parts and kits for rebuilding, that's money in their pocket.

From an accounting perspective, I could see NS saying that rebuilding  fully depreciated unit and getting 5 more years of service for a modest cost per / hp is a great deal. Especially if they could avoid tier 4 costs.

Yes and no, unless you're changing the prime mover in the Dash 8s you're dealing with what is now an obsolete piece
that doesn't get rebuilt by the Class 1s at this point. So, you're maintaining a larger than required parts inventory in the
prime mover and in other retro parts. In the end the conversions will be barely profitable.

Out

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes and no, unless you're changing the prime mover
> in the Dash 8s you're dealing with what is now an
> obsolete piece
> that doesn't get rebuilt by the Class 1s at this
> point. So, you're maintaining a larger than
> required parts inventory in the
> prime mover and in other retro parts. In the end
> the conversions will be barely profitable.
>
> Out

That's a great perspective, thanks for sharing it.

If NS planned to use the rebuilds in captive service between points A and B, the parts etc might be manageable.  I wonder if they've decided that the rebuilds will produce enough horsepower with enough reliability to make this rebuild cost effective?  In lieu of buying brand new new expensive Tier 4 power.

NSDash9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not all the Dash 9-44CW's will be rebuilt as
> AC44C6CF units. Once the Dash 9-40C's are all
> rebuilt as AC44C6M's, that program will continue
> with the Dash 9-44CW's.
>
>
> Chris Toth
> NSDash9.com

I guess the concern now is getting the OLS units before they bite the dust, or is NS gonna keep a few of the AC44C6M's in OLS paint?  Its a great mesage to get out there, and it looks good on a widecab as it is. 

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes and no, unless you're changing the prime mover
> in the Dash 8s you're dealing with what is now an
> obsolete piece
> that doesn't get rebuilt by the Class 1s at this
> point. So, you're maintaining a larger than
> required parts inventory in the
> prime mover and in other retro parts. In the end
> the conversions will be barely profitable.
>
> Out

The 7FDL is far from an obsolete engine. Considering GE actively developing new tech to put on these engines, and is rebuilding and shipping out power assemblies every day for replacement and overhauls, this engine will be kicking for many years to come. If you ask any mechanical person on probably any Class-1 they will tell you that the 7FDL is a better engine then the GEVO that replaced it.